Calm in Philippines after ex-president's arrest

FILE - In this Nov.8, 2011 file photo, former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, wearing a head and neck brace, poses following an interview with a local reoporter at her residence in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Philippine officials say it's business as usual in the country and there is no army unrest despite the dramatic arrest of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and a looming legal battle. (AP Photo/Manila Standard Today) PHILIPPINES OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT
— AP

FILE - In this Nov.8, 2011 file photo, former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, wearing a head and neck brace, poses following an interview with a local reoporter at her residence in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Philippine officials say it's business as usual in the country and there is no army unrest despite the dramatic arrest of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and a looming legal battle. (AP Photo/Manila Standard Today) PHILIPPINES OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT
/ AP

MANILA, Philippines 
It's business as usual in the Philippines, with no army unrest or fears of massive street protests despite the dramatic arrest of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and a looming legal battle by her lawyers to seek her release, officials said Sunday.

Backers of the ailing Arroyo, who was arrested at a Manila hospital Friday for alleged election tampering, have accused President Benigno Aquino III's administration of filing the criminal complaint "with indecent haste" to prevent her from leaving the country. Arroyo, 64, had earlier obtained Supreme Court approval to go aboard for medical treatment.

Arroyo, who won a seat in the House of Representatives after her stormy nine-year presidency ended last year, once had strong ties to a group of loyal army generals who shielded her from four failed coup attempts sparked by a series of corruption scandals. All have since retired.

She also faced down a number of impeachment attempts while steadfastly denying any wrongdoing.

While there was no public grumbling in the military, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said he checked just the same with senior commanders, who reported nothing unusual. "I checked on the service commanders and asked them 'how are our people?' and was told, 'business as usual sir.'"

Gazmin said that while troops should not dabble in politics, he ordered commanders to explain recent developments concerning Arroyo to soldiers so they would not be misled by partisan groups that might seek the military's backing.

The military has a long history of coup attempts, although none has been successful.

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who oversees the national police, said he was not ruling out possible pro-Arroyo rallies as her lawyers fight her arrest on the nonbailable charge of election sabotage.

But he said he was surprised that no pro-Arroyo rallies were staged last week. Instead, left-wing groups took to the streets to welcome her arrest and criticize the government for the delay in her indictment. Currently, there is no need to raise security alert levels, Robredo said.

"In any transition from the old to the new, you usually can't expect a lack of tensions," Robredo told The Associated Press. "If there is something that provides stability now, it's the people."

Cellphone messages last week called on Arroyo followers to gather at the historic EDSA pro-democracy shrine, where "people power" revolts against ex-presidents Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada erupted, but nobody turned up, he said.

Arroyo lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said her followers wanted to gather at the hospital to show support, but were told to just pray for her health and send letters to officials and newspapers claiming political persecution of her.

"She was once a president. She's not without support," Topacio told reporters Sunday outside the hospital.

Aquino has given instructions to treat Arroyo "with respect as a former president who remains innocent until proven guilty," Robredo said. He said only four police officers are guarding her 16th-floor hospital suite, where she was fingerprinted and photographed by police Friday.